Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-04
CRU ELTY TO INDIANS
MANY PEACEFUL APACHES DEPRIVED
OF THEIR HOMES.
Several Arrested ou 1ruinped UP Charges
"A whole Iiand Leave Homes and
rropcrty-Gh o AGENTS Taking Steps
to secure Justice for Chem

WAsHlNGTOE, Cot. 3O.-Some weeks ago
the military authorities Of Arizona report
edto the war department that the sheriff
of pinale county held warrants for the ar
rest of EskimiAin and q other Indians
living on San Pedro river In that terri.
tory upon the charge of grand larceny and
resisting arrest, and had called upon Capt.
Pierce, commanding military officer at
San Carlos, who is also acting az Indian
agent, to aid in the arrest Gen. Miles in
reporting the matter to Gea. Howard, ex.
pressed the opinion that the attempted ar
rest OF these Indians by the local civil
officers would prove n serious matter if
not involve the territory in an Indian war.
The history of the affair is now made pub.
lie Ill report just received at the Indian
Office from Lieut.. !. W. Watson of the
10th cavalry, transmitted by Capt Pierce.
1t appears the Indians have long been
the victims of outrageous prosecutions by
the whites. 1t is learned Eskimain was IN
til the last few years the head chief OF the
Aravoipa and Pinale Apaches, for whose
occupation the san Carlos reservation was
originally established. He was powerful
chief of great influence with the tribe OF
which the since notorious Geronimo was
member. Nine years ago Eskimizin and
number of followers of their own accord
desiring to live III peace with the whites
abandoned the tribal relations, took lands
in San Pedro valley under the Indian
homestead law, built comfortable houses
aud barus, irrigated and fenced lands and
10y their own unaidel industry accumu.
lated considerable property. This was an
entirely new departure in the history of
the hitherto fierce Apaches The interior
department did every thing in its power to
assist and protect them, also officers o..
the army were stationed i'll the vicinity
Before long the white settlers began 10
ehcroach upon the lands and unsuccessful
attempts were Nude to dispossesS Since
then the Indians nave been the constant
victims OF maltreatment, trickery, threats
OF violence and impositious III number less
ways. Many have been arrested and
taken before district justices of the peace
upon trumped up charges, all for the sole
purpose OF ultimately driving them from
g0cu homes, that the whites might take
possession. The prosecutions never caused
the Indians TO retatiate, but have accom-
plished the purpose III driving Eskimizin
and his little band from San Pedro hack
TO the old reservation
Eskimizin says he does not wish TO
struggle longer and has come back hoping
lor home and protection from { he " mites
on the reservation He and his people left
behind everything. The old Chief left "A
good home, 80 cattle, farming IMPLEMENTS,
go sacks of corn. a quantity Of wheat and
barley, good Wagon, harness and house.
hold furniture Everything was aban-
doned to the whites.
The last act of hostility on the part OF
the whites was the arrest of SIX Indians
upon false charges and the attempted
arrest of the IS others referred to above
/ he sheriff q! Pinale county made a de
mand upon Captain peI &c Tor surrender
OF the accused, which has not been com.
piled with. The Indian officials pronounce
the affair Il shameful outrage on peaceful,
I&waoiGinG Indians, ana VIII take such
sep - ar1 necessary To- restore t1 The
Indians the abandoned property.